S.F. No. 1711 sets a uniform date for local referenda related to spending on various issues.

Sections 1 and 2 requires a school district to hold a capital project referendum or a referendum on increasing general education revenue on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in any year. Section 2 deletes the authority to hold certain school district referenda by mail.

Sections 3 and 4 require a city, town, or school district referendum on a question to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in any year. Conforming changes are made.

Sections 5 and 6 require a municipal referendum relating to utilities to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in any year.

Section 7 requires a local government referendum authorizing a property tax levy or tax rate increase to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in any year. A conforming change is made to a date.

Section 8 requires a local government referendum authorizing an additional levy to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in any year. Conforming changes are made.

Section 9 requires a city referendum on certain contracts to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in any year.

Section 10 requires a city referendum on issuing certificates of indebtedness or capital notes to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in any year.

Section 11 requires a municipal referendum on pledging certain revenues to pay bonds to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in any year.

Section 12 requires a city referendum on liquor store issues to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in any year.

Section 13 requires a first class city referendum on acquiring or constructing public utilities to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in any year.

Sections 14 and 15 requires a city referendum on power utilities to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in any year.

Section 16 requires a local government referendum to accept certain donations of land to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in any year or at an annual town meeting.

Sections 17 to 21 require port authority and economic development authority referenda to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in any year. If approved, the levy in section 17 must not go into effect before the next calendar year.  Section 18 requires local approval.  Section 20 deletes the option to vote on imposing a lodging tax at a special town meeting.

Section 22 requires a municipal referendum on establishing a public works reserve fund to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in any year.

Section 23 requires a municipal referendum on certain projects to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in any year.

Sections 24 and 25 require a city referendum relating to reserve funds to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in any year.

Section 26 requires city or town referendum to approve the issuance of certain bonds to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in any year or at the annual town meeting. Even if a special law states that a special election to approve the issuance of certain laws provides differently, the referendum must be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in any year or at the annual town meeting.

Section 27 repeals section 126C.17, subdivision 11 (school district referendum date), and section 205.10, subdivision 3 (prohibition on municipal elections within 56 days after the general election).

Section 28 provides that the act is effective on August 1, 2015, and applies to any referenda held after that date.

ACS/syl